Merchandise tags incorporating a wireless communication device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for labeling a piece of merchandise with a wireless communication device. In addition to a wireless communication device, the merchandise tag includes an associated label made of a washable fabric material. The wireless communication device is incorporated into the label and includes an RFID chip and a slot-loop hybrid antenna, with the antenna including a conductor sheet that defines a slot. The label is secured to a piece of merchandise at a sew line, with the sew line dividing the label into an upper portion and a lower portion. The RFID chip and the slot of the antenna are positioned within the upper portion of the label, which may itself be positioned within a seam or neckline or waistband of the piece of merchandise.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/007,597 filed Jun. 4, 2014, which is incorporated byherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present subject matter relates to merchandise tags. Moreparticularly, the present subject matter relates to washable tags havinga wireless communication device incorporated therein, with improveddurability and resistance to fractures and breaks.

Description of Related Art

Devices incorporating wireless communication approaches including remotefrequency identification (“RFID”) technology are widely used for avariety of different applications, including incorporation intomerchandise tags for inventory control, tracking, and security purposes.Such systems are well known in the retail industry, including inconnection with clothing inventory control and security from theft andother losses.

RFID devices incorporated into a merchandise tag may have a variety ofintegrated components, among them an RFID chip containing data such asan identification code for the type of product and even for the exactpiece of goods associated with a unique identification code. Othercomponents may include an antenna electrically connected to the RFIDchip, which is responsible for transmitting signals to and/or receivingsignals from another RFID device, for example, an RFID reader system.The antenna may take any of a number of forms including, in somecircumstances, a hybrid loop-slot antenna or slot-loop hybrid antenna,which is commonly referred to as a “sloop” antenna. Configurations ofthese types of hybrid or sloop antennas are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,298,343 and 8,072,334, both of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Clothing tags are frequently subjected to stress, such as when theassociated article of clothing is washed or folded or otherwise handled.Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a washable tag that ismore durable and capable of being repeatedly washed, folded, orotherwise handled without the associated antenna fracturing or breakingor otherwise becoming irreparably damaged.

SUMMARY

There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may beembodied separately or together in the devices and systems described andclaimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combinationwith other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and thedescription of these aspects together is not intended to preclude theuse of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspectsseparately or in different combinations as may be set forth in theclaims appended hereto.

In one aspect, a merchandise tag includes a label formed of a fabricmaterial, with a wireless communication device incorporated into thelabel. The wireless communication device includes an RFID chip and aslot-loop hybrid antenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip. Theantenna includes a conductor sheet defining a slot. A sew line, at whichlocation the label is to be secured to a piece of merchandise, dividesthe label into a smaller upper portion and a larger lower portion. TheRFID chip and the slot of the antenna are positioned within the upperportion of the label.

In another aspect, a labeled piece of merchandise includes a piece ofmerchandise and a merchandise tag. The piece of merchandise includes aseam or neckline or waistband. The merchandise tag is secured to thepiece of merchandise at a sew line, which divides the merchandise taginto an upper portion positioned within the seam or neckline orwaistband and a lower portion positioned outside of the seam or necklineor waistband. The merchandise tag includes a label formed of a fabricmaterial, with a wireless communication device incorporated into thelabel. The wireless communication device includes an RFID chip and aslot-loop hybrid antenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip. Theantenna includes a conductor sheet defining a slot, with the RFID chipand the slot of the antenna being positioned within the upper portion ofthe label.

In yet another aspect, a method of labeling a piece of merchandiseincludes providing a piece of merchandise and a merchandise tag. Themerchandise tag includes a label formed of a fabric material, with awireless communication device incorporated into the label. The wirelesscommunication device includes an RFID chip and a slot-loop hybridantenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip. The antenna includes aconductor sheet defining a slot. The merchandise tag is secured to thepiece of merchandise at a sew line, which divides the label into asmaller upper portion and a larger lower portion, with the RFID chip andthe slot of the antenna being positioned within the upper portion of thelabel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a merchandise tag according to conventionaldesign;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a wireless communication device suitablefor incorporation into a merchandise tag according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a merchandise tag according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the merchandise tag of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the merchandise tag of FIG. 3,secured to a piece of merchandise;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of awireless communication device according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the merchandise tag of FIG. 3,showing the use of conductive threads as the conductive element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention in virtually any appropriate manner.

The merchandise tags described herein are both robust and washable andare of relatively low thickness. Having these properties, the tags areespecially suitable for use as labels, patches, tags, decorativeoverlays and the like for garments or other pieces of merchandise.Garments can be subjected to processing, including washing and so-calledstone washing during their processing or production. When thus used, thetags are robust and durable, especially with respect to potentialbreakage of the antenna of a wireless communication device incorporatedinto the tag. The present merchandise tags are capable of withstandingwashing and other processes such as stone washing without having toincorporate material that adds excessive thickness, which would make thetags stiffer than desired, also impacting garment wearability.

Merchandise tags according to the present disclosure may address anumber of problems. For example, one problem is disruption of theantenna of the wireless communication device, which may become broken ortorn during manufacturing, processing, and use. FIG. 1 illustrates amerchandise tag T according to conventional design. The merchandise tagT includes a label L formed of a washable fabric material and a wirelesscommunication device W, which includes an RFID chip R and an associateddipole-type antenna A. The merchandise tag T includes a sew line S,which represents the location at which the merchandise tag T is securedto a piece of merchandise, such as by a sewing or adhesion process. Thesew line S is positioned adjacent to one end of the label L, therebydividing the label L into an upper portion U and a lower portion B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the majority of the wireless communication device W,including the RFID chip R and the antenna A, is positioned within thelower portion B of the label L. During manufacturing, processing, anduse of the associated piece of merchandise, the lower portion B of thelabel L is more likely to be damaged than the upper portion U (which isaffixed to the merchandise). If the lower portion B of the label Lbecomes detached from the piece of merchandise at the sew line S, thenthe RFID chip R and the antenna A will be disassociated from the pieceof merchandise, thereby becoming incapable of working as intended. Evenlesser damage to or handling of the label L can irreparably damage thewireless communication device W, with the antenna A being of the dipoletype that may be relatively thin and fragile and susceptible to fractureor breakage.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless communication device 10 according to thepresent disclosure. The wireless communication device includes an RFIDchip 12, with an antenna 14 electrically coupled to the RFID chip 12. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the antenna 14 is of the hybrid loop-slotantenna type, generally referred to as a “sloop” antenna. The antenna 14is formed of a conductor sheet 16 that defines a slot 18, with the slot18 (along with the RFID chip 12) being an “active” component of thewireless communication device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, theconductor sheet 16 is generally rectangular, with the slot 18 beingpositioned at an upper edge or end 20 of the conductor sheet 16.Preferably, the conductor sheet 16 is formed of a relatively thin,electrically conductive material, such as a conductive foil. Asillustrated, the slot 18 may extend between a closed end 22 that and anopen end 24 associated with the upper end or edge 20 of the conductorsheet 16. In one embodiment, the slot 18 may be cut from the sheet ofconductive material of the conductor sheet 16 in such a way that orientsthe slot 18 substantially horizontally (in the orientation of FIG. 2)instead of vertically (as the antenna A is oriented in FIG. 1), suchthat the slot 18 is positioned adjacent to the upper end or edge 20 ofthe conductor sheet 16. For example, it may be advantageous (for reasonswhich will be described in greater detail herein) for the slot 18 to bedefined in the upper 10-20% of the height of the conductor sheet 16 (inthe orientation of FIG. 2).

Preferably, the conductor sheet 16 is relatively large to improve theperformance of the sloop antenna 14. For example, the conductor sheet 16may have a height and width that are comparable to the height and widthof the label of the associated merchandise tag. For example, amerchandise tag 26 incorporating the wireless communication device 10 ofFIG. 2 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with FIG. 4 showing the conductorsheet 16 having an outer perimeter with a shape, width, and height thatare approximately or substantially the same as the shape, width, andheight of the associated fabric label 28. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate anembodiment in which the conductor sheet 16 is substantially identical insize and shape (except for the presence of the slot 18) to the fabriclabel 28, with the height of the conductor sheet 16 and the label 28(i.e., the vertical dimension of the label 28 and the conductor sheet 16in the orientation of FIGS. 3 and 4) being greater than the width of theconductor sheet 16 and the label 28 (i.e., the horizontal dimension ofthe label 28 and the conductor sheet 16 in the orientation of FIGS. 3and 4) to provide a substantially rectangular label 28 and wirelesscommunication device 10. While the illustrated embodiment may beadvantageous, it is also within the scope of the present disclosure forthe height of the label 28 and the conductor sheet 16 to be less thanthe width or for the height and width of the label 28 and the conductorsheet 16 to be substantially the same. Further, it is also within thescope of the present disclosure for the label 28 and the conductor sheet16 to be substantially non-rectangular and/or for the label 28 to have adifferent size and shape than the conductor sheet 16, including anembodiment in which the conductor sheet 16 extends beyond the perimeterof the label 28.

In the illustrated embodiment, the merchandise tag 26 is formed of asingle fabric label 28 secured to a wireless communication device 10. Inother embodiments, a plurality of fabric layers may be provided, such asa front fabric layer and a rear fabric layer, with the wirelesscommunication device 10 sandwiched or positioned between the two fabriclayers. As shown in FIG. 3, the fabric label 28 may be provided withinformation (e.g., care instructions and identifying information) andsymbols printed thereon. In that case, a relatively large conductorsheet 16 may improve the appearance of the resulting merchandise tag 26,as the conductor sheet 16 provides a flat surface that may be more rigidthan the associated label 28 (which is typically formed of a thin,flexible fabric material), thereby decreasing the amount of distortionof anything printed on the fabric label 28.

A relatively large conductor sheet 16 may also improve the operation ofthe wireless communication device 10 and sloop antenna 14 in a number ofways. For example, it may be more difficult to break a large conductorsheet 16 than a thin line or other structure in a typical dipole-typeantenna A, such as illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally, breakage of alarge conductor sheet 16 is less likely to cause a critical reduction inthe functionality of the antenna 14 and its ability to communicatewirelessly. For example, a horizontal break through the middle of theconductor sheet 16 of FIG. 2 would result in somewhat reducedperformance, whereas the same horizontal break through the middle of thewireless communication device W of FIG. 1 would completely destroy anddisable the prior art antenna A. A relatively large conductor sheet 16may also serve to strengthen and protect the joint between the antenna14 and the RFID chip 12.

Turning back now to the RFID chip 12, it may take any of a number offorms (including those of the type commonly referred to as a “chip” or a“strap” by one of ordinary skill in the art), including any of a numberof possible components and configured to perform any of a number ofpossible functions. For example, in one embodiment, the RFID chip 12includes an integrated circuit for controlling RF communication andother functions of the wireless communication device 10. In theillustrated embodiment, two ends or points 30 and 32 of the RFID chip 12are connected to the conductor sheet 16 at opposite sides of the slot18, which serves to electrically couple the RFID chip 12 to theconductor sheet 16. In this particular embodiment, the RFID chip 12 ispositioned adjacent to the open end 24 of the slot 18 and the upper endor edge 20 of the conductor sheet 16, with the RFID chip 12 having alarger dimension that is oriented horizontally (in the orientation ofFIG. 2) instead of vertically (as the RFID chip R is oriented in FIG.1). In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the RFID chip 12 maybe positioned directly adjacent to the upper end or edge 20 of theconductor sheet 16, such as being positioned entirely within the upper10-20% of the height of the conductor sheet 16 (in the orientation ofFIGS. 2 and 4).

FIG. 4 illustrates the effect of positioning the slot 18 and the RFIDchip 12 adjacent to one of the ends or edges (illustrated as the upperedge or end 20) of the conductor sheet 16. In particular, by positioningthe slot 18 and the RFID chip 12 adjacent to one of the ends or edges ofthe conductor sheet 16, the slot 18 and the RFID chip 12 (i.e., the“active” components of the wireless communication device 10) may bepositioned entirely on one side of the sew line 34 (shown in brokenlines in FIG. 4) of the merchandise tag 26. In the illustratedembodiment, the sew line 34 effectively divides the merchandise tag 26,the label 28, and the wireless communication device 10 into an upperportion 36 (in which the slot 18 and the RFID chip 12 are located) and alower portion 38. The lower portion 38 is intended to be viewed by acustomer or user, so it may be preferred for the sew line 34 to beoriented in a way that results in a lower portion 38 that is larger thanthe upper portion 36, which allows for more information to be printed oraffixed or otherwise displayed on the lower portion 38 of the label 28.As such, the upper portion 36 may be referred to as the minor or fixedportion of the merchandise tag 26 (because it is the portion that isaffixed to the merchandise), while the lower portion 38 may be referredto as the major or free portion.

Positioning the slot 18 and the RFID chip 12 in the upper portion 36 ofthe merchandise tag 26 significantly increases the durability of thewireless communication device 10. For one, the upper portion 36 may befixedly secured to the piece of merchandise, whereas the lower portion38 is typically unsecured to the piece of merchandise, allowing thelower portion 38 to freely bend or deform during manufacture,processing, and use. Hence, the lower portion 38 is subject to morestress, pressure, and impact than the upper portion 36. In theillustrated embodiment, the conductor sheet 16 extends from the upperportion 36, into the sew line 34, and into the lower portion 38 in orderto increase its size (for reasons described above in greater detail);however, as noted above, damaging or even breaking off a portion of theconductor sheet 16 does not prevent the wireless communication device 10from operating, as the RFID chip 12, the slot 18, and the portion of theconductor sheet 16 surrounding the slot 18 remain intact in the upperportion 36 and operational.

The conductor material16 may include conductive fabric or alternativelymay use conductive threads which are woven into the label, such as acare label to function as the antenna and connected to the wirelessdevice. Any sort of conductive thread pattern could be used in the labelor tag.

Additionally, positioning the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18 within theupper portion 36 may allow for the piece of merchandise itself to helpprotect the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18. For example, if the piece ofmerchandise 40 includes a seam or neckline or waistband 42 (FIG. 5),then the merchandise tag 26 may be secured to the piece of merchandise40 in such a way that the upper portion 36 of the merchandise tag 26(and, hence, the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18) are positioned within theseam or neckline or waistband 42. The seam or neckline or waistband 42may be defined by material or fabric folded onto itself, which may besealed shut by the sew line 34 when the merchandise tag 26 is secured tothe piece of merchandise 40 (or may be separately sealed shut). Thisformation of the piece of merchandise 40 effectively creates a pocket orsleeve in which the upper portion 36 of the merchandise tag 26 (and,hence, the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18) may be positioned, whichcushions and protects the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18.

Furthermore, positioning the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18 within theupper portion 36 of the merchandise tag 26 may more readily allow theuse of a support material to further protect the RFID chip 12 and theslot 18. A customer or user is typically more accustomed to the seam orneckline or waistband 42 of a piece of merchandise 40 being more rigidor less flexible than the portion of an associated merchandise tag 26positioned outside of the seam or neckline or waistband 42 (i.e., thelower portion 38). Thus, the addition of a support material having agreater stiffness or rigidity than the fabric of the label 28 to all ora portion of one or both sides of the upper portion 36 and/or the sewline 34 provides additional protection for the RFID chip 12 and the slot18 without subverting the expectations of the customer or user as to therelatively softness and flexibility of a seam or neckline or waistband42 and the free portion 38 of an associated merchandise tag 26positioned outside of the seam or neckline or waistband 42. Examples ofthe support material include a polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) filmattached by any suitable approach, such as application of a sealant,adhesive, heat, pressure, and/or sonic sealing or as an over-laminate orthe like. An additional advantage of a support material is that it mayhelp to prevent or limit the ability of water or chemical agents,including detergents and processing chemicals, to come into contact withand damage the RFID chip 12 and the slot 18 (e.g., when the piece ofmerchandise 40 is being washed or cleaned).

In one embodiment, the support material may define and replace a portionof the conductor sheet. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment ofa wireless communication device 44 in which a composite conductor sheet46 is formed of two separate conductive sub-sheets or pieces 48 and 50.The first piece 48 of the conductor sheet 46 may define at least theupper portion 52 of the conductor sheet 46 (i.e., the portion of theconductor sheet 46 in which a slot 54 is defined and the RFID chip 56 islocated) and be formed of the relatively inflexible support material.The second piece 50 of the conductor sheet 46 may be formed of arelatively flexible material (such as a fabric) and define at least thelower portion 58 of the conductor sheet 46 (i.e., the portion that istypically unsecured to the associated piece of merchandise). If soprovided, the two pieces 48 and 50 of the conductor sheet 46 may besecured and electrically coupled together at an overlapping section 60,which may correspond generally to the location of the sew line 62 (as inFIG. 6) or may be positioned away from the sew line 62. Other than thecomposite conductor sheet 46, the wireless communication device 44 ofFIG. 6 may be configured and operate according to the foregoingdescription of the wireless communication device 10 of FIG. 2, withmerchandise tags incorporating the wireless communication device 44 ofFIG. 6 being configured and operating according to the foregoingdescription of the merchandise tag 26 of FIGS. 3-5.

In a further embodiment for FIG. 6, the conductive fabric may be afabric which is coated with a conductive material or conductor via vapordeposition, printing, electroless plating or the like. In addition, thetop portion of the 48 of the tag 44 may be constructed of or coated withan insoluble material and the bottom portion 46 may be subject todestruction or deterioration during normal garment laundering orwashing. In this way, the upper portion may still function in a nearfield RFID tag which could then be used for returns and managing thereinsertion of the item into the inventory, or for such otherapplications such as loyalty programs or the like.

Turning now to FIG. 7, conductive threads 39 can be woven in anyparticular pattern and used as the conductor as opposed to coating thesecond portion 38 with a conductive material. This may provideadditional flexibility for the label and can also be used to addaesthetic elements, such if copper or gold conductive threads are usedas these could then be visible in the label adding a further shinyappearance to the label. The conductive threads can be woven in anysuitable fashion.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above areillustrative of some of the applications of the principles of thepresent subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theclaimed subject matter, including those combinations of features thatare individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons, thescope hereof is not limited to the above description but is as set forthin the following claims, and it is understood that claims may bedirected to the features hereof, including as combinations of featuresthat are individually disclosed or claimed herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for labeling a piece ofmerchandise, comprising: providing a piece of merchandise; providing amerchandise tag including a label formed of a fabric material and awireless communication device incorporated into the label, the wirelesscommunication device including an RFID chip and a slot-loop hybridantenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip and including a conductorsheet defining a slot, the conductor sheet having an upper portion and alower portion; and securing the merchandise tag to the piece ofmerchandise at a sew line, which divides the label into an upper portionand a lower portion, wherein the merchandise tag is secured to the pieceof merchandise such that the upper portion of the label is smaller thanthe lower portion of the label, and the slot is defined in one of theupper and lower portions of the conductor sheet and the one of the upperand lower portions of the conductor sheet having a greater durability.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the piece of merchandise includes aseam or neckline or waistband and said securing the merchandise tag tothe piece of merchandise includes securing the merchandise tag to thepiece of merchandise such that the upper portion of the label ispositioned within the seam or neckline or waistband.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said securing the merchandise tag to the piece ofmerchandise includes securing the merchandise tag to the piece ofmerchandise such that the conductor sheet is at least partiallypositioned within the sew line.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein saidsecuring the merchandise tag to the piece of merchandise includessecuring the merchandise tag to the piece of merchandise such that theconductor sheet is at least partially positioned within the lowerportion of the label.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductorsheet has a width approximately equal to the width of the label and aheight approximately equal to the height of the label.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said providing a merchandise tag includes providing amerchandise tag formed of two pieces having different stiffness.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the slot is defined in the piece of theconductor sheet having a greater stiffness than the other piece of theconductor sheet.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor sheetis rectangular.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor sheet isa conductive foil.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the slot issubstantially horizontal.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the slot isvertical.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchandise tag isformed of a single fabric layer.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein themerchandise tag is formed of a plurality of fabric layers.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the chip is positioned entirely within anupper 10-20% of a height of the conductor sheet.
 15. The method of claim1, wherein the conductor sheet uses conductive threads which are woveninto the label.